Eton Manor welcomed Guernsey to the New Wilderness for the first ever match between the two sides. Manor have found it difficult adjusting to the faster pace and power of the National League and their cause has not been helped by a mounting injury list. This listed would be added to by another three players come the end of the game, with Kevin Reed, who has been in terrific form, the most badly injured with a dislocated shoulder, we wish him well for his recovery.

Guernsey kicked off the match and although Manor cleared their lines, they soon gave away a penalty allowing the visitors to kick deep into Manors 22 for a lineout. With clean ball Guernsey set about testing Manors defence with wave after wave of driving runs, but Manors defence was up to the task until they strayed offside giving a simple kick at goal, 0-3 to Guernsey after 4 minutes of play.
Guernsey continued to have advantage in terms of possession and territory, but Manor were defending well, rebutting all that the visitors threw at them. But Guernsey continued to build the phases and test Manors defences, eventually the pressure told when a well judged grubber kick in behind Manors line was chased by Guernsey’s winger who won the race to the ball and dotted down for their first try of the game, with the conversion successful Manor now trailed 0-10 after 14 minutes.

Still Guernsey continued to attack Manor, and a free flowing attack was only stopped by an excellent tackle by Alex Hunter, Rhys Davis-Horne was first over the ball, but the ref deemed that he acted illegally and sent him to the sin bin. Guernsey took the three points on offer from the subsequent penalty and extended their lead to 0-13.

From the restart Manor attacked Guernsey, with the forwards making good ground with driving runs into the visitors 22, here Nick Horton chipped the ball into the dead ball area where Manor winger Elliott Brown was just beaten to the touchdown by a covering defender. From the restart Guernsey worked their way up field and when the ball reached their left winger he had open space in front and sprinted into Manors 22, looking certain to score, but Reed Reece had covered superbly tackling the ball carrier and winning a scrum. Manors cause wasn’t helped at this point by the loss of fullback Chris Jones and hooker Dave Dennis, both to injury.

From the scrum Manor began to work their way up field where replacement, Ashley Somers was notable for his powerful driving runs. But the rest bite from Guernsey’s attacks was only temporary as a fast flowing move by their back line saw their fly half break through into Manors 22, here he drew the last defender and passed to his scrumhalf who had a simple run in over the line for another try. The conversion was missed but the lead had been increased to 0-18 after 25 minutes.

Manor now had a period of pressure inside Guernsey’s half and from a penalty kicked for an attacking lineout inside Guernsey’s 22. Ian Edwards secured the thrown and Manor drove forward eventually feeding the charging Kevin Reed, who was stopped just short of the line. The ball was quickly recycled along the line, but poor handling saw the advantage handed over to their opponents as Manor knocked the ball on.

Guernsey continued to have the better of play for the remainder of the half, helped by some indiscipline from Manor, this enabled the visitors to add two further unconverted try’s before the end of the first half giving them a comfortable 0-30 going into the second half.
Manor knew that they had to respond and up their game otherwise they were going to be on the end of another thrashing. Things could not have stated of any worse for Manor when after 2 minutes of the half, without a recognised hooker to throw the ball in at the lineout, they lost their own throw inside their 22, this allowed Guernsey to move the ball swiftly along their backline where eventually they crossed Manors try for a converted try, 0-37.

From the restart Manor at last began to impose themselves on the game, George Cosma and Brad Burrell both making good ground with ball in hand taking play into Guernsey’s 22. Here Louie Southerland took up the charge and was stopped a few meters short of the line, Manor forwards continued to pick and drive before the ball was released along the backline and quick hands saw the ball reach Somers out wide and he had the strength to power over the line and score despite the attempts to stop him by four defenders. The conversion was missed but Manor were at last on the score sheet 5-37 after 5 minutes of the second half.

Manor continued to have the better of things and a quick break from Horton from inside his half saw play move into Guernsey’s half, here the ball was fed out to winger Tom Bateman who scorched along the touchline eventually being taken into touch 8 meters short of the line. Manor stayed on the attack until a promising move broke down with yet another knock on allowing Guernsey to clear the danger.
Undeterred Manor continued to take the game to Guernsey with John Robinson and Somers both making good ground before Cosma and Burrell combined well to attack the visitors try line, Keven Reed then attempted to cross the line but was knocked backwards, his bother Reece took up the charge but was held up over the line. It was now apparent that Kevin Reed had sustained a serious injury and play was held up so that he could receive the medical attention he needed.

Manor did not allow the further disruption to their side affect them as from the five meter scrum, Manor held firm which allowed Reece Reed to pick up from the base and outpace his opposite number and the defensive line to cross for Manors second try of the game. Again the conversion was unsuccessful but the score had now moved on to 10-37 after 25 minutes.

Manor were now in the ascendency and directly from the re-start Robinson charged up the pitch before feeding Jack Tovey who took play to Guernsey’s 22 meter line, here in support was Southerland who took on the attack, being stopped a few meters short of the try line. Manor recycled the ball quickly along the line and had worked a two man overlap, but instead of the simple pass, a miss-pass was tried which failed to find it’s target and went harmlessly into touch, a certain try had gone begging. Manor were soon handed back possession though when Guernsey threw the ball in crooked at the lineout. From the set scrum Southerland again drove forward then fed Robinson who made meters before Reed darted along the backline and sent out a long pass to Brown on the wing who had the pace to scamper in at the corner for Manors third try. The conversion was missed but at 15-37, Manor had the opportunity to get a try bonus point if they could score another try with 8 minutes of the game remaining.

From the kick off Guernsey worked their way into Manor territory and after some good driving play from their forwards the ball was fed out to their left winger. He raced towards the line but was denied a score by an excellent covering tackle from Brown. But the ball was recycled quickly and a hole appeared in Manors retreating defence allowing Guernsey to score another converted try. 15-44 with time almost up.

Manor still had their heads up and from the off harried Guernsey with Tovey smashing the ball catcher to the ground winning a scrum. With Manor getting the nudge on at the scrum Reed sent quick call out to Horton who worked a miss move with Hunter and brought in Davis-Horne who broke through the first tackle then saw open space in front of him and raced in from 20 meters to score Manors fourth, bonus point try. With the conversion successful by Reed the ref blew for fulltime with the score 22-44.

Although Manor had lost they had secured their first league points of the season with a try bonus point. The first half was poor from Manor and they were outplayed by the talented Guernsey side. But the second half was totally different and Manor had raised their game to the level that is needed to be successful in this league, winning the second half 22-14. The players can take heart from their second half display and know that if they can produce the same level of play for 80 minutes they the will be a match for most sides in the league.
Next week see’s Manor travel to old foes Colchester and although 19 potential first team players are unavailable for selection mainly due to injury, they are confident of being able to select a side that can compete with their rivals.